Means for propelling vessels



(No Model.)

W. ARCHER.

MEANS FOR PROPELLING VESSEL$.

No. 359,952. Patented Mar. 22, 1887.

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WITNESSES V INVENTUR K7 9. $.JLG9I UNTTED STATES PATENT @rricn.

WILLIAM ARCHER, OF BROOKLYN, NElV YORK.

MEANS FOR PROPELLING VESSELS.

FEPECIFICIATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 359,952, dated March 22, 1887.

Application filed JULC 8, i886. Serial No. 204.479. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM ARCHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Iniprovement in Means for Propelling Vessels Through the llater; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification.

The object of my improvement is to provide means for propelling vessels, whereby a more direct application and direction of the power may be made than is ordinarily possible; also, protecting the head of the explosioirchamber and providing means to steer the vessel without a rudder, as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal central section of the main tube of my apparatus, also the explosion chambers, sliding tubes, springs and pistons, and gas-inlet pipes. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-section of the main tube, also the bifureated or divided tube and valve near the stern of the vessel. Fig. 3 represents a plan of part of a vessel with my improved apparatus attached.

A, Fig. 1, represents a tube of the requisite diameter and strength extending the length of the hull of the ship or vessel and open at both ends to the water. Itis placed below the waterline. Near the stern of the vessel the tube A is bifurcated or divided into two tubes, A and A as shown, these tubes communicating with the water a short distance from the stern-post on either or both sides, the object being to dispense with the rudder, as described hereinafter.

A is a valve placed at the junction of the tubes A and A with the main tube A. The main tube A may be made of the same diameter the entire length of the vessel and the ordinary rudder used, if desired.

B and B are the explosion-chambers conneeting with the tube A, to which they are firmly attached. The explosion-chambers and tubes are constructed of cast-steel or other metal capable of resisting a high explosive pressure, and in the top or upper end of the explosion-chambers B and B are spring pistons or buffers C and G, to deaden the shock or vibrations of the explosion of the gases or vapor used, by whose explosions or expansion the propulsion is produced. An air-chamber may be used in place of the spring. The eX- plosionrhambers B and Bare turned smooth inside. Near the top a shoulder is formed, on which the piston rests, as shown, the piston being fitted in the usual manner.

D and D are inlet-pipes near the top of the explosion-chamber, to convey the explosive gases into the explosion-chambers B and B.

E and E are sliding collars or extensiontubes, and these collars or tubes are placed inside the explosion-chambers, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the object and use being described hereinafter.

The explosion-chambers B and B are placed near the center of the main tube A, or other suitable position on the tube, and at an angle of forty-five degrees, more or less, to the tube A, the upper end of the explosion-chamber being vertical, as shown, the explosion-cha nber for the forward motion inclining toward the bow of the vessel, and the explosion-chamber for the reverse motion inclining toward the stern of the vessel, as shown in Fig. 3.

To operate my apparatus or machine, the vessel being partly submerged in water, the tube A will be filled with water, the ends being open, as previously described. The sliding collar or extension-tube E is lowered to its place by means of a lever, eccentric, or other device, the obj ect being to lengthen the tube or explosion-chamber B while it is in use, so as to deflect the gases or products of combustion in the direct-ion it is desired to force the water from the tube, by which reactive force the vessel will be propelled through the water. The gases, being admitted to the chamber B in suiiicient quantity, are, when desired, ignited and exploded by any convenient means, as by a flame or electric spark.

The expansion causes the water in the tube A to be forced in the direction of the arrows. lVhen it is desired to reverse or quickly stop the motion of the vessel, the collar or extensiontube E is raised up into the chamber l3, and the collar or extension E is lowered in the chamber 13. The explosion-chamber B is then used, by which means a reverse motion is produced in the column of water in the tube I A. Both explosion-chambers are constructed and operated precisely the same, oneflbeing used on the forward motion and the other on the backward motion. The bifurcated 0r divided tubes A and A and valve A direct the course of the vessel. An upright bar is attached to the valve A to the top of which the steering apparatus of the vessel is attached, thus enabling the helrnsman to turn the valve A across either tube or in any position required to turn or steer the vessel. This is accomplished by means of a greater pressure being thrown on one side, the vessel being thus turned around or steered in any direction that may be desired.

Having fully described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent 1s 1. In an apparatus for propelling vessels, the explosion-chambers B and B, in combination with a tube, A, extending the entire length ofthehull of the vessel, said explosionchambers being set at an angle of forty-five degrees, more or less, to the tube A, one toward the bow and the other toward the-stern of the vessel, substantially as shown and described.

2. In an apparatus for propelling vessels, the sliding collar or extension-tube E, in combination with the explosion-chambers B and B and tubeA, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. I11 an apparatus for propelling vessels, the elastic spring and air pistons O and O, in combination with the explosion-chambers B and B and tube A, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus for propelling vessels, thebit'urcated tubes A" and A valve A, and longitudinal tube A, in combination withthe explosion-chambers B and B and vessel F, substantially as shown and described.

WILLIAM ARCHER.

Vitnesses:

W. F. JORDAN, J. L. W'HITING. 

